THE MINISTER FOR LABOUR AND STRIKES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 67, 18 March 1908, Page 8

THE MINISTER FOR LABOUR AND STRIKES.

(To the Editor.} Sir,—Under the heading "Is Arbitration a Failure?" in your issue of Monday the Hon. Mr. Millar, Minister for Labour, is reported to have made a most extraordinary statement which calls for some In regard to recent labour troubles he is said to have "pointed out that in every case the trouble was with unorganised men. There was/ he said, "no union, no award, and the Court had' no jurisdiction; therefore the men had absolute freedom to make their bargain in their own way." Now as a master of fact the very contrary is the case, as in every instance the trouble has arisen among unionists, working under an award; and non-unionists have had absolutely nothing to do with the disputes; and further, the Court did have jurisdiction and exercised it by inflicting fines on those taking part" in the various strikes. He goes on to say that during the fifteen years that the Arbitration Act has been in force the strikes proper have been only two—the slaughtermen and the Blackball miners. I might remind him of the Denniston and the tramway strikes, to say nothing of the various smaller affairs; while in New South Wales, under an Arbitration Act nearly identical with our own, strikes are almost chronic; and it is also well to remember that in New Zealand, prior to the passing of the Arbitration Act, strikes were practically unknown, if we except the Maritime Strike, which, as everyone knows, did not originate in New Zealand. While unions and' Trade and Labour Councils in different parts of tbe Dominion are aiding and abettinc the present strike, and so causing a breach of the Act, the general feeling among non-unionists is one of disapproval of the action of the miners in striking, and it is therefore greatly to be deplored that one occupying so high a position as that of Minister for Labour should have attached the blame to those who are in no way responsible.—l am, etc., NON-UNIONIST.